By Joan Clayton Have you ever realized that history repeats itself? It’s a concept as old as time. It can be traced as far back as can be pursued. An undeniable result of transgression is that it never happens in isolation. The fact that, “one does as he or she pleases, as long as it […]

Editorial Considering the discouraging history and circumstances, it was an accomplishment to get representatives from 40 countries, including most of the relevant Arab nations, to sit down for a day just to talk about the possibility of a Palestinian-Israeli settlement. And if the real point was to use the meeting to give Sunni Arab countries […]

Freedom New Mexico If anybody has a right to have developed a bitter attitude toward the Iranian regime and perhaps even to have decided there’s just no talking to those people, it would be Ali Shakeri. Shakeri is the Iranian-American businessman who was snatched out of the Tehran airport more than four months ago and […]

Editorial It seems as if every American president has to make one last, desperate attempt to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian crisis, and it’s easy to see why. Former President Carter has been using those Camp David meetings that eventually led to a peace — it turned out to be a “cold peace,” but at least it’s […]

By Joan Clayton: Religion Columnist In a recent study, half of a group of cardiac patients were prayed for and half were not. Those who were prayed for improved remarkably in many ways. I read a story of Saint Peregrine, a young priest in the 14th century, who was scheduled for a leg amputation because […]

By Joan Clayton: Columnist Worry has been defined as the interest gained on torment. That being true, guess where worry comes from? Certainly not from God. Whatever the situation, does worrying help? Does it give comfort? Does worry give peace? Does worrying give control of the situation? If you answered, “Yes,” to any of the […]

By Joan Clayton : Religion Columnist Last week, I had surgery on my ankle in Lubbock. An antibiotic was prescribed as a precautionary measure to avoid infection. Within 30 minutes of taking the first pill, I began to sneeze. I must have sneezed 20 times. I noticed my hands had turned red and my face […]

By Freedom Newspapers After years of dormancy, moves toward a peace settlement between Israel and Palestine are appearing on several fronts. The Iraq Study Group report contends that an Israeli-Palestinian settlement is essential to a reasonable outcome in Iraq, and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has traveled to the region and vowed to step up […]

By Helena Rodriguez: Freedom Newspapers On that first Christmas night, as Joseph and Mary reportedly searched for lodging before the birth of Jesus, they were foreigners in another land, dependent on the help of strangers. It is the same kind of compassion and call for social action that pastor Clyde Davis will focus on when […]

By Kevin Wilson: Freedom Newspapers As a resident of a community with a strong military presence, I’ve often heard, “Freedom isn’t free.” It’s a notion that we sometimes have to sacrifice for our way of life, and it makes sense. As a reader of current events, I’m coming to fear something else. Apparently in Colorado, […]

By Freedom Newspapers The words “traitor” and “treason” are sometimes used rather loosely in common parlance, applied to anything from criticizing the current administration’s policies in impolite terms to actually taking up arms in a foreign army at war with the United States. The U.S. Constitution, however, is much more explicit and limited in its […]

Freedom Newspapers The human impulse is to hope that he survives and has years of restful peace remaining. Whether that happens or not, however, the serious stroke suffered by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is likely to be a setback to hopes for Israeli-Palestinian reconciliation. And for a time, at least, it will throw Israeli […]

Joan Clayton: Religion Columnist Christmas is a time to celebrate the greatest human event of all time. No other event compares to, or has affected history as much, as this man called Jesus. No other religion offers hope. None other brings relief. None other brings peace like the “Prince of Peace.” None other wants the […]

By Capt. (Chaplain) Mark McKellen If you are in debt and are having trouble making ends meet, what do you do? Get another credit card? How about attending a program called Financial Peace University? FPU was founded by Dave Ramsey who was a multi-millionaire in his mid-20’s while working in the real estate business. His […]

Freedom Newspapers Given the history, it is generally wise to be skeptical about signs that might portend a breakthrough toward peace, or even nonhostile co-existence between Israel and Palestine. Nonetheless a move by Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas to challenge powerful militant Palestinian groups is a sign that might be worth noting. It is important […]

By Joan Clayton: PNT Religion Columnist Do you dread a trip? Do you imagine the worst, creating a scenario of all kinds of mishaps? When the phone rings in the middle of the night, do you think the worst before you even pick up the receiver? How about this one … envisioning all sorts of […]

Noise pollution reflects poorly on Portales I have lived in Portales for four months, and it is the loudest town I have ever heard. I thought this small town on the Plains would have one benefit: It would be quiet. I haven’t been that wrong since I asked for parachute pants for Christmas in ’84. […]

By Joan Clayton Life is a journey and I wonder sometimes if we live this precious gift without purpose. The psalmist has said, “We spend our years as a tale that is told,” (Psalm 90:9). Those around us read the story of our lives. Each day we write the pages by example and influence. In […]

By Joan Clayton A porch swing is a gift of relaxation. You can swing and read a book, bird watch, or just watch the world go by. Sitting in the porch swing with loved ones in the evening made happy childhood memories for me. Enjoying the night air and relaxing in the stillness of it brought […]

Gary Mitchell FARWELL — Through Financial Peace University, the average family eliminates $5,300 in debt while saving $2,700, according to its founder, Dave Ramsey. “Financial Peace University is a series of 13 biblically based, life-changing personal finance lessons,” Ramsey said. “The course shows people how to apply proven, common-sense principles in their ‘real world’ that […]